The Devil boldly reminds us of our base natures. Through him we come face to face with our dark side. He embodies all of our shadowy elements, especially our addictions and obsessions. At his worst he is relentless in driving us to do things that undermine the spirit and prey upon the body. Through our feelings of fear and inadequency, he discovers and exploits our weaknesses. He challenges us to look at the parts of ourselves that we have repressed or denied, including desires we are afraid to voice.

One of the things people commonly both fear and desire is sex. Our culture teaches us to hide and be ashamed of our sexuality, which can lead to a whole range of unhealthy attitudes and behaviors. As his symbol, the inverted pentegram, suggests, the Devil exalts the flesh over the spirit. His appearance bids you to consider your attitude toward your sexual desires. Seek the road between inhibition and compulsion. Seek pleasure without shame and appreciate the body as the natural partner to the soul, rather than master or slave to it.

As repulsive or frightening as he may be, the Devil brings a crucial lession: light and dark must coexist. Until we comfort and explore the more unsavory parts of ourselves, they will enslave us.